The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 314 I Will Live and Die with Xingqing Prefecture

Xingqing Prefecture, the capital of Western Xia, should have been a bustling and prosperous place with a constant flow of traffic and people, but at this moment the streets were desolate.

Shops that used to be bustling with vendors' cries were now all closed, and residents were hiding in their homes, too afraid to go out, or had already fled the city to other places.

Soldiers in armor could be seen everywhere on the streets. They were the Western Expeditionary Army that Nailing Sicong had brought back. Their armor was worn and their faces showed fatigue and ferocity.

Many of these soldiers were originally ordinary civilians.

When he was forcibly conscripted into the army, he still harbored the idea of ​​conquering Liangzhou and plundering it thoroughly, so that the hardship would not have been in vain.

But who would have thought that the army would suffer a crushing defeat, with 100,000 soldiers retreating in disgrace to Xingqing Prefecture, where they could barely afford food, let alone gold and silver.

The soldiers, who hadn't received any benefits, were already filled with resentment.

As a result, more and more people vented their resentment on the city's residents.

"Help~"

"Help! Please, let me go! My husband is a soldier too!"

"Ah~"

The mournful cries and the soldiers' laughter came from the next courtyard. Old Wang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his back hunched, and sighed heavily, his cloudy eyes filled with helplessness.

"What a damn world!" He spat angrily on the ground.

The man next door was conscripted into the army long ago, and now there's no news of him. Perhaps he's still alive and fighting on some battlefield, or perhaps he's already died in some unknown corner.

The women who stayed at home had to suffer such bullying.

Old Wang thought to himself, if that man knew what was going on at home, he would probably be kicking himself.

"Waaah... my son..."

Hearing the cries from next door, Old Mrs. Wang couldn't help but think of her son and wiped away her tears.

She had three sons, one of whom disappeared without a trace during the Battle of Hexi two years ago, neither alive nor dead.

One of them went out with the Western Expeditionary Army and has not been heard from since; the youngest son was still a child when he was forcibly taken to Keyimen.

I recently heard that Keyimen was captured by the barbarians of the northern frontier, and the army collapsed. I'm afraid my youngest son is also in grave danger.

So, for the past few days, the old woman has been crying her eyes out.

Just as he was sighing, he suddenly heard a loud bang as his own courtyard gate was kicked open.

A group of thugs burst in, brandishing knives and guns, searching everywhere.

Old Wang grinned bitterly: "There's nothing left in the house, really nothing to take."

"The last bit of food was also taken away."

"Bullshit! You people from Xingqing Prefecture are all very rich. You never even give us outsiders a second glance. How could you not be rich?"

"That's right. Last time I came to Xingqing Prefecture to sell firewood, I was scolded by an old woman who said that we country folk were smelly and didn't deserve to come to the city."

"Damn it, you bunch of snobbish bastards, today I'll show you what it means to be poor people like us."

As they spoke, the soldiers ransacked the house, turning it upside down. When they finally found nothing of value, they snatched the last two broken earthenware bowls and left in a huff, cursing and swearing.

"Those bastards!"

Looking at the ransacked house, Old Wang was filled with grief and indignation: "They dare not rob those high-ranking officials and nobles, but they know how to bully us poor people!"

The high-ranking officials and nobles all lived in the inner city and were protected by the Imperial Guards. How could these scoundrels dare to mess with them?
Only ordinary people like them, living in the outer city, are destined to be at the mercy of others.

Not long after the group of thugs left, the old couple quietly slipped into the neighboring yard to check.

The courtyard was a mess. The woman had been dragged to the barracks by the soldiers. Only a toddler who had just learned to crawl was lying on the ground, crying loudly from hunger.

"A sin..."

Grandma Wang picked up the baby with heartache and wiped away the tears on his face with her sleeve.

The elderly couple sighed and took the baby home. Old Mrs. Wang found some rice bran that she had secretly stored at home, cooked a bowl of porridge so thin that you could see your reflection in it, and fed it to the baby.

"Old man, why don't we leave too? Many people have already fled the city."

"They all say that the barbarians from the northern frontier are about to attack the city."

Upon hearing this, Old Wang shook his head helplessly: "Let's go?"

"Where can two old folks like us go?"

"Will things be safe outside the city?"

Old Wang sighed softly. If he were ten years younger, he might have taken his wife out of the city.

But now, having left Xingqing Prefecture, they are completely unable to support themselves.

“Let’s stay in the city. We’re both old folks. Even if the barbarians from the northern frontier break into the city, they won’t kill us. They’ll have to use their swords to do so.”

Whether it's the Northern Frontier Army or the Xia Army, for these ordinary people living at the bottom of society, life is just as difficult.
Old Wang stood at the door, peering through the crack at the panicked figures on the street, then looked at his wife holding the child inside the house, and sighed heavily.

When will this ever end?
Meanwhile, the high-ranking officials and nobles in Xingqing Prefecture were already in chaos, all trying to flee the besieged city with their families.

The East Gate was packed with a dense crowd, filled with cries and arguments. The congested crowd made the city gate almost an insurmountable barrier.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar, accompanied by harsh shouts: "Get out of the way, get out of the way, all of you get out of the way!"

A dozen burly men brandished clubs, whipping and beating the crowd until they were bleeding from head wounds.

For those who fell to the ground, they simply trampled them underfoot, leaving their bones shattered and blood splattered on the spot.

Following closely behind was a large convoy that drove out of the city. Protected by numerous burly guards, it struggled to squeeze through a passage and slowly walked out of the city gate.

The people were so angry that they dared not speak out, and they all stared at the back of the convoy, wondering which powerful family had such influence.

Since the news of the fall of Keyimen arrived, the entire Xingqing Prefecture has been like ants on a hot pan.

Some people held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that Xingqing Prefecture's city walls were high and it was guarded by 100,000 troops. They believed that the Northern Frontier Army, lacking supplies, would not be able to sustain a prolonged siege.

However, many nobles and officials had already made up their minds to flee, firmly believing that as long as they survived, they could always make a comeback, and arranged for their families to leave Xingqing Prefecture first.

Amidst the chaos, the curtain of a carriage was gently lifted a crack, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face.

Li Lingyang looked at the trembling people on both sides, a hint of pity appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"Go and summon General Zhang," she whispered to the maid beside her.

Soon, a burly man dressed in plain clothes rode up on horseback, bowed slightly beside the carriage, and whispered, "Your Highness."

From inside the carriage came Li Lingyang's gentle yet firm voice: "General Zhang, these are all citizens of our Great Xia. They just want to escape the city. Do not harm them."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chuan's expression immediately turned somewhat troubled.

He simply thought that this princess, having grown up in the inner palace, was too kind-hearted.

But if one doesn't resort to a bit of rudeness, it would probably take at least an hour to squeeze out of the city gate.

But he dared not disobey and reluctantly replied, "This subordinate obeys."

Let's agree to it for now. At most, we can ask our subordinates to go easy on us and not cause any deaths.

After all, Princess Lingyang, who was inside the carriage, was His Majesty's most beloved eldest daughter, and no one dared to offend her easily.

As the convoy slowly drove away from the city gate, Li Lingyang once again lifted the carriage curtain and looked back at the majestic Xingqing Prefecture city wall.

The Northern Frontier Army has arrived, and the capital city where she has lived for more than ten years has come to the point where she has to abandon it and flee for her life.

According to reliable sources, the barbarians have already reached the walls of Dingzhou and will soon arrive outside Xingqing Prefecture.

Even her father, the emperor, was not entirely confident that he could defend Xingqing Prefecture.

So they sent people to escort the Empress Dowager, the Empress, the Crown Prince and Princess, and all other important people out of Xingqing Prefecture.

The destination was Xiping Prefecture on the east bank of the Yellow River, also known as Lingzhou.

That place was the birthplace of the Western Xia dynasty. It was only after Li Jiqian occupied this place that the Western Xia dynasty rose to power rapidly and later moved its capital to Xingqing Prefecture.

Is Xiping Prefecture really safe?
Li Lingyang gently clenched his sleeve.

The Yellow River, though a natural barrier, can hold us off for a time. But if even a formidable pass like Keyimen has fallen, what else is absolutely reliable?
She thought of her father's solemn face and the fearful eyes of the soldiers on the city wall, and her heart tightened.

She grew up in the palace, listening to stories of her ancestors expanding the territory. She never imagined that one day, the people of Great Xia would struggle like ants in the midst of chaos, and even the royal family would have to flee in panic.

"Royal sister, don't be afraid, I will protect you."

A tender voice rang out, clear and innocent like a child's, yet carrying an undeniable firmness.

The speaker was none other than the seven-year-old prince, who was also peering out of the carriage window at the city wall.

Instead of holding the snacks that ordinary children like, he tightly gripped a small bronze arrowhead.

That was a gift from my father last year; it's said to have been an old item used by our ancestors during their campaigns.

"Just now I saw the soldiers on the city wall with their heads down. Have they forgotten what our great-grandfather said?"

"Grandfather Taizu said that even if only one soldier of the Great Xia is left, he must still draw his sword against the enemy."

Hearing his younger brother's innocent words, Li Lingyang's heart clenched.

When he said "drawing his sword at the enemy," he was clearly referring to the soldiers who showed fear when facing the Northern Frontier Army.

Even children remember the teachings of their ancestors, which shows that this spirit has never been severed in their blood.

"They haven't forgotten; they're just saving up their strength."

Li Lingyang pinched her younger brother's cheek, trying to make her voice sound cheerful.

"Once we get to Xiping Prefecture, you should practice archery diligently with Master Wu. In the future, we'll go back to Xingqing Prefecture together and drive out those soldiers wearing yellow hats, okay?"

The young prince suddenly straightened his small body, tucked the arrowheads into his waistband, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, imitating the imperial guards general: "It's a deal!"

"I'll lead the charge then, and you'll just have to watch, my elder sister. I'm sure I'll be even more powerful than our great-grandfather."

"Good~"

"Giddy up!" The coachman cracked his whip, urging the horses on, and the caravan gradually moved away from Xingqing Prefecture.

Li Lingyang lowered the carriage curtain, shutting out the outline of the capital city, and looked at her younger brother's innocent face, but the heaviness in her heart did not lessen in the slightest.

Xiping Prefecture is the birthplace of the dragon, but does the Great Xia Dynasty still have the fortune to rise to power?

She didn't know the answer, and could only silently pray in the bumpy carriage that her father could win a brilliant battle in Xingqing Prefecture and drive the northern barbarians back to their homeland.

After Li Chunyou sent some important members of the royal family to Xiping Prefecture, he immediately summoned all civil and military officials.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable. The ministers all bowed their heads, none daring to speak first.

Li Chunyou glanced around at the ministers in the hall and said in a deep voice, "Sending the Crown Prince to Xiping Prefecture is not for any other reason than to ensure that our Great Xia can preserve a bloodline and retain a glimmer of hope."

He paused, then his voice rose a few decibels, carrying a resolute tone: "But I will remain in Xingqing Prefecture until the very last moment."

"I will live and die with Xingqing Prefecture, fight to the death, and protect this ancestral heritage."

After the words were spoken, the hall fell silent, then a chorus of voices echoed in agreement: "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty, we are willing to defend Xingqing Prefecture together."

Li Chunyou nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the officials before finally settling on Li Anquan in the corner. "Li Anquan."

Li Anquan froze, slowly stepped out of the ranks, and bowed, saying, "Your subject is here."

Li Chunyou looked at him and slowly said, "I know that you have many grievances in your heart after the Battle of Hexi."

"But now the country is in peril, and we need capable people. I have decided to restore your title of Prince Zhenyi and order you to assist in the defense of the city. Are you willing?"

Li Anquan cursed inwardly: Damn it!

After the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Hexi, he was stripped of all his official positions and titles by Li Chunyou, becoming a powerless and idle man.

He had hoped to escape to Xiping Prefecture with the others and get away from this place of trouble, but at this very moment he received an imperial edict that the restoration of his title was a pretense, and that his real purpose was to send him to his death.

He never gets to have good things happen to him, and now that the northern army is about to arrive, he's being asked to fight to the death. He's really not a human being.

He cursed Li Chunyou a thousand times in his heart, but dared not show it on his face.

If you dare to say "no," you'll probably lose your head on the spot.

"Your Majesty is too kind. I dare not have any complaints."

"When the nation is in peril, every citizen has a responsibility, let alone a member of the royal family."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to accept the order and assist you in defending the city, even if it means my death!"

Li Chunyou looked at him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Good!"

"I knew you wouldn't let me down."

"You shall immediately accept the order and proceed to the western city to set up defenses, without fail."

"The minister obeys the order."

Once the officials had left the main hall, the smile on Li Chunyou's face vanished abruptly.

He deliberately left Li Anquan in Xingqing Prefecture because Li Anquan had a certain prestige among the imperial clan and also had the support of the Empress Dowager.

Once in Xiping Prefecture, the young Crown Prince was no match for him.

"It would be best if, as you said, I stayed in Xingqing Prefecture and 'served my country' for the sake of the Great Xia dynasty," Li Chunyou thought to himself.

He then personally led a team to inspect the city's defenses.

The reason the capital wasn't moved to Xiping Prefecture was simply because there wasn't enough time.

Keyimen was breached in a short time, and in just four or five days, the Northern Frontier Army would reach the outskirts of Xingqing Prefecture.

How to move the capital?

They would likely be overtaken by the northern cavalry halfway there, and such a large number of people and vehicles would surely collapse the Yellow River pontoon bridge.

Therefore, Li Chunyou could only send important members of the royal family to Xiping Prefecture, while he, the emperor, stayed behind to defend the city with the soldiers.

After all, this is the capital of the mighty Great Xia Kingdom. To hand it over to the Northern Frontier Army without even fighting is simply outrageous.

Li Chunyou planned to use this fortified city to fight a decisive battle with the Northern Frontier Army, to make Li Xiao understand that the Great Xia was not a pushover.

To destroy the Great Xia, we must first break the teeth of the entire Northern Frontier.

To demonstrate strength to the enemy.

Only by showing our fists can we have any possibility of further peace talks.

Even if Xingqing Prefecture ultimately falls, Li Chunyou has other options.

Xingqing Prefecture has been the capital for a hundred years, how could it not have a tunnel?

The Crown Prince is still young. If he inherits the throne in Xiping Prefecture, he will only become someone else's puppet.

Therefore, Li Chunyou cannot die in Xingqing Prefecture.

In the following days, the atmosphere in Xingqing Prefecture became increasingly tense, with a sense of impending doom.

The streets were deserted except for the soldiers; those who could have fled had fled, and those who couldn't escape could only hide in their homes.

On the city wall, the guards moved back and forth, carrying logs, stones and arrows, and each of their faces was solemn.

They glanced out of the city every now and then, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

Then one day, someone suddenly pointed to the northern horizon and screamed, "They're here! They're here!"

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw billowing dust rising on the horizon as a cavalry force galloped towards them like a yellow torrent.

Under the sunlight, their yellow armor stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling a golden Gobi Desert.

Dozens of yellow battle flags fluttered in the wind, their sun and moon symbols on them menacing and terrifying—these were the flags of the Fourth Division of the Northern Frontier Army!

"It's the fourth town in northern Xinjiang!"

Most of the soldiers defending the city were soldiers who had fought against Luo Meng's troops at Hulang Pass and were familiar with the battle flags and armor of the Fourth Division.

"Why would the Fourth Town send an attack?!"

"Could it be...could it be that the northern frontier army of Tiger Wolf Pass has broken through the western front and circled around to the north?"

This thought instantly plunged the soldiers on the city wall into panic.

Soon after, Li Chunyou arrived at the city wall with a solemn expression, his black dragon robe fluttering slightly in the wind.

He leaned against the cold battlements, his gaze fixed on the northern frontier soldiers outside the city who were constantly riding their horses and provoking him.

"Your Majesty, this should be the vanguard of the northern barbarian army."

The general of the Western Expeditionary Army beside him bowed and pointed to the enemy ranks: "Judging from the flags, it is the 120,000th Household of the Fourth Garrison of the Northern Frontier."

The 120,000th Household was originally stationed in the Hexi Corridor, and it is likely that they went to conquer the northern desert in the spring.

Only after achieving victory did they advance as the vanguard to attack Xingqing Prefecture.

At this moment, another general suddenly exclaimed, "Your Majesty, look!"

Upon hearing the sound, Li Chunyou looked over and saw a row of flagpoles slowly being erected in front of the Northern Frontier Army. On each flagpole hung a person, dressed in rags, swaying precariously in the wind.

Each person had their identity and name written in both Chinese and Tangut script on a vertical banner beside them.

It was Wei Minghonglie, who was captured at Keyimen, as well as Zhou Shichang, the Grand Secretary, Liang Sansi, the Minister, and Yang Rusong, the Jin envoy and deputy commander of Fengxiang Road.

Although the three men fled in panic at the first moment, they were ultimately unable to outrun the cavalry of the Northern Frontier Army.

He was eventually found in a farmer's cellar.

Li Chunyou recognized them at a glance, watching as former high-ranking officials and generals were hung on flagpoles like livestock for public display.

His blood rushed to his head, his expression turned furious, and he slammed his fist on the battlement: "You treacherous dogs from the Northern Frontier, you've gone too far!"

Just then, a soldier from the northern frontier rode up to a point outside the range of the crossbows, holding a tin megaphone, and shouted loudly at the city wall.

"Listen up, you city guards! Your commander has been captured, your court officials have been taken prisoner, and Xingqing Prefecture is now an isolated city."

"Those who know what's good for them should surrender immediately. The Grand Protector has ordered that those who surrender will not be killed and their lives will be spared."

"If they don't know what's good for them, we'll kill everyone in the city after it falls."

"Hang your emperor on the city wall, and take all his concubines and princesses into the army..."

"presumptuous!"

Hearing these foul words, Li Chunyou's eyes turned red with anger, and he shouted out.

He turned to the generals behind him and ordered, "Send the troops!"

"Kill all these treacherous dogs from the northern frontier for me."

There were only three thousand northern frontier cavalrymen outside the city as the vanguard, while there were still one hundred thousand defenders inside the city. The cavalry force alone was enough to wipe them out, and this victory could boost morale.

But the surrounding generals, upon hearing this, turned pale with fright and knelt down, crying out, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"This is a treacherous plot from the northern frontier!"

"They are deliberately feigning weakness in an attempt to lure our troops out of the city."

"Yes, Your Majesty, you must not send troops."

Another general chimed in: "Perhaps the main force of the Northern Frontier Army is lying in ambush in the distance. Once our army pursues them, they will surely fall into the trap."

"Has Your Majesty forgotten the Battle of Keyimen? Marshal Weiming fell for that very treacherous scheme!"

Hearing the unanimous advice of his generals, Li Chunyou's outward rage gradually subsided, and he seemed to calm down, but his clenched fists betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

He was acutely aware of a serious problem: with the successive defeats of the Western Xia, the death of Nai Ling Sicong from serious injuries, and the capture of Wei Ming Honglie, his prestige in the army had plummeted, and his control over the army had been severely weakened.

Li Chunyou was not a foolish ruler; he had long heard of the Northern Frontier Army's tactics and naturally understood that this was likely a trap to lure the enemy.

But he still pretended to be angry and ordered the troops to go out, which was just a test.

In the past, even if his military orders were wrong, his subordinates would only offer gentle advice and would never directly contradict him like they do now.

In addition, despite his repeated orders to all departments not to harass or plunder the people in the city in recent days, unrest in the outer city continues to occur one after another.

All of this indicates that he is losing the foundation of his rule within the military.

The reason for this was that the main force and backbone of the Xia army were lost at the hands of the northern frontier, and almost half of the high-ranking generals were replaced, especially the passing of loyal old ministers such as Nai Ling Si Cong.

In addition, the rampant expansion of the military led to a decline in the quality of the army, and the empty national treasury was unable to pay military rations and salaries...

A series of problems intertwined, causing the army to gradually slip out of control, and various units had secretly formed their own warlord factions.

Even though he understood the crux of the problem, Li Chunyou was at a loss.

With the northern army at the city gates, he still needs these military leaders to guard the city; he absolutely cannot start eliminating them at this time.

We can only endure it for now and wait until we defeat the Northern Frontier Army.

These thoughts flashed through his mind in a fleeting instant.

Li Chunyou slowly loosened his fist and nodded to the generals: "What you all say is true, this must be a treacherous plot by the Northern Frontier Army."

He paused, then raised his voice, "I have 100,000 troops in my city. As long as we defend the city walls, the Northern Frontier Army will definitely not be able to break through."

Upon hearing this, the generals all breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing expressions of relief.

As long as we don't leave the city to engage in open battle with the Northern Frontier Army, everything else is negotiable.

After all, no one wants to send their troops out of the city to fight. If their troops are all wiped out, they will lose their foothold in the Xia Kingdom and may even be made a scapegoat by Li Chunyou and executed.

As a result, all the generals tacitly chose to hold onto their troops tightly, and none of them were willing to take the initiative to take risks.

While the emperor and his ministers were talking, the Northern Frontier Army's Shenji Battalion outside the city was already ready.

A centurion of the Divine Machine Battalion drew his cavalry sword, pointed it at the city wall, and shouted in a ferocious voice.

"fire!"

"Boom boom boom~"

(End of this chapter)